Trolley-carrier



(No4-Model.) 2 Sheets--Sheet 1.

D. C. NELSON & W. R. EATON.

TROLLEY CARRIE-P..

No. 430,675. Patentedune 24, 1890.

IU I

(No Modem I 2 sheetwsheen 2. D. C. NELSON & W. R. EATON.

y TROLLEY CARRIER. lNo. 430,675.l Patented June 2 UNITED STATES PATENTOEEIcE.

DAVID NELSON, OF QUINOY, AND WALTER R. EATON, OF CAMBRIDGE,MASSACHUSETTS.

TROLLEY-CARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,675, dated June 24,1890.

Application led March 25, 1890, Serial No. 345,276. (No model.)

Vments in Trolley-Carriers; and we do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to guresof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in trolley-carriers so called,adapted for use in connection with electric cars for street-railwayshaving the overhead system and employed to support the trolley-wheel andmaintain the latter in rolling contact with the trolley-wire, therebyserving to conduct the electric iiuid from said Wire to the motor.

Our invention comprises two features. One consists in a double armtrolley-carrier and in an arrangement of parts whereby the pressure ofthe trolley-arms-the two being oppositely disposed-can be adjusted andcontrolled to suit varying conditions of the wire; and, further, tocause each of said trolley-carriers to contact with the wire in turnwhenthe car is changed in its direction of travel. By thus providing tworeversely-disposed trolley-carriers no occasion exists for shifting theposition of the said trolley-carriers, as is now practiced, it merelybeing necessary to raise one and similarly lower the othertrolley-carrier.

The second feature of our present invention is embodied in a pivotalextension in which is journaled the trolley-wheel and further providedwith spreading prongs or automatic finders so called, whereby thetrolleywheel, when disengaged from the trolleywire, can readily bereplaced and the circuit broken by such displacement again closedthrough the motor. l

The drawings accompanying this specification represent in Figure l aside elevation of an electric street-car furnished with a trolleycarrierembodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a plan of the mechanism forregulating the position of the trolley-carriers against the wire. Fig. 3is a perspective view of the automatic finder enlarged. 4 is a similarview of the foot of the trolley-carrier. Fig. 5 is an end view of thecar and trolley-carriers. Fig. 6 shows in perspective the three partswhich comprise the spring-dog. Fig. 7 is a perspective view in detail ofthe toothed rack.

The first portion of ourinvention comprises two trolley-arms, in lieu ofone, as now in general use. Vthen the car comes to the end of its routeand its direction in travel changed is mounted between anti-frictionrollers 6in;

pairs secured eXteriorly of the car-top to insure easy movement when sodesired. Centrally of the car is mounted twin standards or housings 7 7,which support a short shaft 8. Rigidly secured thereto are thetrolleycarriers 9 9, duplicates in construction, but oppositelydisposed. One of these is employed when the' car moves in one direction,the other when such direction is reversed. Consequently, the position ofthese arms lnustbe changed at the end of each trip unless the car isshifted end for end by a turn-table. To effect this change and movementin the position of the trolley-arms, and in order to cause each tocontact with the trolley-wire at proper determined times, we havearranged the following mechanism: Lateral or side movement occasioned bydeviation of the trolley-wire above the center of the road-bed by theswaying of the car or otherwise is compensated for by fastening upon theshaft 8 two short arms 23 forked at their upper ends, and .provided withan offset, so that the two trolleycarriers are in the saine alignmentand beneath the trolley-wire. The ends of said arms,

asbefore premised, are forkedandhave springs 24: bolted laterallythereupon. The lower end IOO of the trolley-carrier proper extends belowits pivot at 26 and acts against one of the springs depending upon thedeviation of the carrier sidewise. Such departure from the properalignment causes a leverage against one of said springs, and when thecause for such deviation ceases vthe action of the spring then .pressedupon forces the carrier to resume its normal position. Thetrolley-carriers are pivotally attached to the arms 23, the pivots beingat right angles to the shaft 8. Firmly attached to the shaftS isapendent spring-lever 12. The latter is preferably a strong spring, andits elasticity serves to force the trolleycarrier up against the wire.Said lever terminates in a fork engaging in a plate 13. This isconnected' and moves with the rod 4. Mounted on said rod and preferablyin proximity to the ends of said plate are set two oppositely-disposedspringdogs 14. These are transversely of and adjustable with respect tosaid rod. Laterally of the said plate 13, and in vertical position, areplaced two toothed racks 15, which co-operate respectively with the dogsbefore mentioned. These spring-dogs are set at an angle of about ninetydegrees with each other in such position that both can be held removedfrom their racks, and thus permit free thrust or pull upon the rod 4when the carriers are to be shifted in position. From their position itis evident only one dog can be utilized at the same time.

In Fig. 7, looking at the teeth 27 upon the rack it will be noticed thatthe active faces 28 against which .the dogs rest are vertical. As aconsequence there is a liability of the rod 4 twisting or turning, dueto jar from the movement of the car. This would produce disengagement ofthe active dog and rack and permit the trolley-carrier to change itsposition. To obviate this the lower portion of the face of each tooth iscut away, forming an overhanging lip or guard 29; hence, to disengagethe dog a slight endwise movement or thrust must be given the rod `inorder to clear the dog from the guard. Axial motion of the rod 4 canthen be effected and the dog placed in an inactive position. The

dogs we have mentioned as spring ones; These are constructed as follows:A collar 30 and a disk 31, with a spur 32, both centrally bored andadapted to be adj ustably secured upon the rod 4. Between said disk andcollar is fastened a plate-spring 34, with a finger or prong, whichserves as the active holding part of the dog; but since its inherentstrength does not suffice it is backed or supported by the spur 32 castupon the disk. Further, the spring projects suficiently beyond the diskto wipe by the respective teeth of the rack, since it is free to yieldto advance, but is locked against reverse motion, for the reason thatthe spur rigidly sup- .ports it.

The operation of this portion of our invention is readily perceived. Bymeans of the terminals or handles 5, pivotally hung at 35 to the rod 4,the conductor has perfectcontrol of the trolley-arms. Thus, by referenceto Fig. 1, the right-hand carrier is in contact with the wire. Toreverse the position of said arms he grasps a handle and partially turnsthe rod 4 until the now active dog is disengaged from its holding-rack.Then by axial movement of the rod he causes the other dog to engage itsrack. A pull or thrust now exerted upon said rod 4, and dependent uponwhich end of the car he stands, causes the spring-dog to wipe over theteeth of the rack and prevents any back play. Such movement causes thespring-lever 12 to swing in direction of arrow 2,Whicli simultaneouslycauses the trolley-carrier now in contact with the wire to be depressed,while the other is raised and brought against the trolley-Wire. Whenthis result is accomplished the rod 4, by means of the handle, isreleased, andthe now active trolley-arm is held under' proper pressureagainst the wire. To obviate frictional contact, which occurs betweenthe plate and the forked end of .the actuatinglever when endwisemovement of the plate occurs, small anti-friction rollers 36 areinserted at the ends of each slot containing one of the fingers ofv thelever. Hence a rolling friction occurs, and the rod 4 is operated withvery little difficulty.

The other feature of our invention consists in a finder for atrolley-carrier, whereby the trolley wheel, when disengaged from thetrolley-wire, as in rounding a curve, can be caused to readily pick upand again be made to contactwithsaid wire. To accomplish this resulteasily and effectively, we have furnished the end of the trolley-arm 9with a pivotal extension 17,l in the upper extremity of which is mountedthe trolley-wheel18. Furthermore, extending from this extensi'on whichstraddles the wheel are two flaring arms or finders 19. These arepositioned obliqucly of the longitudinal axis of the trolleycarrier, andpreferably at such an angle that the said finders lie some littledistance below the wire when the wheel is in contact therewith. Thisextension of the trolley-carrier is pivoted about midway of its length,while its lower end 2O is spring-actuated at 21. In lieu of a spring aoounterbalance-weight may be hung upon this lower end. In the event ofsaid pivotal extension being used on the ordinary trolley-carrier, thecord which now serves to control said carrier could be attached to thelower end 2O and the same result be` IOO IIO

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' proper place upon the wire.

occasioned by the wheel leaving the latter, the spring 2l is free toperform its duty. Such action thrusts the lower end portion 2O away fromthe arm, when the extension assumes an upright position and the findersnow stand vertical, extending above the wheel, and are in readiness toengage the wire and lead the trolley-wheel back to its The moment thenormal pressure is resumed between said wire and .wheel the extension isagain aligned with the carrier proper, the spring 2l cornpressed, andthe finders now assume a horizontal position, which permits them to passfreely beneath the transverse wires which uphold and support thetrolley-wire.

What I claim isl. In combination with an electric car, a pivotaltrolley-carrier secured in a standard placed upon the roof, anactuating-lever rigidly attached to said carrier, a rod longitudinall yof and above said car connecting with the lever, and mechanism forholding said rod in any desired position, substantially as stated.

2. The combination, with an electric car, twooppositely-disposedtrolley-carriers rigid on a common shaft, and a rodlengthwise of the car movable endwise thereof, of a pendent lever, whichunites said carriers with the rod, and mechanism for holding the rod inany desired position, composed of two toothed racks secured to thecar-roof and two dogs transversely upon said rod, all operatingsubstantially as herein set forth and described.

3. A trolley-carrier furnished with a pivoted terminal in which `thetrolley-wheel rotates, the said terminal being capable of tilting on itspivot, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A trolley-carrier for electric rail service composed of a carrier-armproper and a pivotal terminal in which the trolley-wheel revolves, saidterminals being furnished with finders, substantially as specified.

- 5. The combination, with an electric car and a trolley-carrierthereupon, of a pivotal terminal, the projecting prongs or findersformed at the upper end, and the lower end adapted to overlap and bearagainst the trolley-carrier, and the spring interposed therebetween, alloperating substantially as described.

6. The combination, with an electric car, two simultaneously oppositelyrocking trolley-carriers, and a spring-lever which controls saidcarriers, of a rod 4, movable endwise of the car, a spring-dog upon saidrod, a plate interconnecting said rod with the lever, and a rack securedto the car, the teeth forming said rack having projecting guards,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we aiix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

DAVID C. NELSON. WALTER R. EATON.

Witnesses:

H. E. LODGE, WILLIAM FOSTER.

